**Executive Summary**
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) celebrated its 63rd Foundation Day on May 2, 2026, highlighting its role in shaping India’s global trade policy and research. The event marked the official launch of a new institutional website and the "Pitch Perfect Australia–India Business Compendium" to enhance digital engagement and research-led innovation. Key speakers emphasized the institute's expansion across four campuses and its strategic importance in preparing leaders for a volatile global business environment.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Institutional Expansion and Growth**
* IIFT now operates across four distinct campuses: New Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, and GIFT City.
* The institute has been recognized for its continued excellence in capacity building, research, and policy engagement within the international trade and management landscape.
* Recent initiatives have focused on strengthening the academic ecosystem and deepening alumni engagement.
**New Launches and Digital Initiatives**
* A new IIFT website was launched to improve user experience, accessibility, and digital engagement for students, faculty, and researchers.
* The Case Research Centre introduced the "Pitch Perfect Australia–India Business Compendium" to promote experiential learning and globally benchmarked research.
**Academic Milestones and Strategic Direction**
* The institute successfully organized five major conferences, including the inaugural Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave 2026 focused on the internationalization of higher education.
* Leadership emphasized the relevance of IIFT’s curriculum in a "VUCA" (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world.
* A strategic recommendation was made to introduce multilingual courses to expand the reach and accessibility of quality education across diverse Indian regions.
**Recognitions and Felicitations**
* Lt. Col. Trivedi Paragkumar, an IIFT student, was felicitated for receiving the Vishisht Seva Medal.
* The ceremony honored retired employees and staff members who completed 25 years of service at the institute.
**Impact Analysis**
**Students and Faculty**
**Impact**
They benefit from enhanced digital resources via the new website and access to new research tools like the Australia–India Business Compendium.
**Action Required**
Students and faculty should transition to the new website for digital engagement and utilize the Case Research Centre’s new publications for innovation and learning.
**IIFT Administration and Leadership**
**Impact**
The institute is under pressure to maintain its growth trajectory and expand its educational delivery methods.
**Action Required**
Leadership must explore the implementation of multilingual courses as suggested and continue managing the expansion across the four national campuses.
**Staff and Employees**
**Impact**
Long-serving and retiring staff are recognized for their institutional contributions, reinforcing a culture of service.
**Action Required**
No specific action is required other than participating in the institutional recognition frameworks.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that shapes India's international trade, research, and policy ecosystem.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The primary government ministry overseeing IIFT and responsible for formulating India's global trade policies.
Piyush Goyal: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry who highlighted IIFT's role in advancing India's global trade and policy landscape.
Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave 2026 on Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: A major academic conference organized by IIFT to discuss and promote the global standards of Indian higher education.
Pitch Perfect Australia–India Business Compendium: A research-led publication launched by IIFT’s Case Research Centre to foster innovation and bilateral business learning.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Celebrates 63rd
Foundation Day
Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal Congratulates IIFT on 63rd
Foundation Day, Highlights Its Role in Advancing India’s
Global Trade and Policy Ecosystem
Posted On: 02 MAY 2026 5:38PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, celebrated its 63rd Foundation Day today. The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry,
Piyush Goyal, extended his congratulations on the occasion through a message on social media. The
Minister appreciated the institute’s continued excellence in shaping India’s international trade and
management landscape and highlighted its role as a premier institution contributing to policy, research,
and capacity building in global trade.
Commerce Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce
and Industry, Shri Rajesh Agrawal congratulated IIFT and commended the institute’s growth. He noted
that IIFT has consistently contributed to India’s global trade ambitions through high-quality education,
research, and policy engagement. He highlighted that its presence across four campuses—New Delhi,
Kolkata, Kakinada, and GIFT City—reflects its evolving global outlook and commitment to excellence.
He further stated that IIFT continues to play a vital role in building future leaders in international business
and has undertaken several initiatives in recent years to strengthen the academic and research ecosystem,
deepen alumni engagement, and expand to new campuses.
Chairman, National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and National Educational Technology Forum (NETF),
Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, who was the Chief Guest, emphasized the importance of offering multilingual
courses to expand the reach and accessibility of quality education across diverse regions of the country.
Referring to the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world, he noted that the education
imparted by IIFT is increasingly relevant in preparing future leaders to navigate dynamic global business
challenges. He appreciated IIFT’s expansion across Delhi, Kolkata, GIFT City, and Kakinada, reflecting
its growing national presence.
Vice Chancellor, IIFT, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi reflected on the institute’s journey and highlighted its
recent growth. He underlined the institute’s rising academic and research stature through the successful
organisation of five major academic and research conferences, including IIFT’s first Vice-Chancellors’
Conclave 2026 on Internationalisation of Higher Education in India. He also highlighted the launch of the
Pitch Perfect Australia–India Business Compendium under IIFT’s Case Research Centre, aimed at
fostering research-led innovation, experiential learning, and globally benchmarked case research.
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the new IIFT website to enhance user experience,
accessibility, and digital engagement for students, faculty, researchers, and stakeholders.During the event, IIFT felicitated Lt. Col. Trivedi Paragkumar, an IIFT student, on being conferred the
Vishisht Seva Medal in recognition of his exemplary service and accomplishment.
The celebration also included classical cultural performances, followed by a ceremony honouring retired
employees and staff members completing 25 years of service at the institute.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2257515) Visitor Counter : 273
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